Close view of a perforated stone window in the Kedareshvara Temple, Balagamve

Photograph of a screen from the Kedareshvara Temple, Balagamve [Balligave] taken by Henry Cousens c.1880s. Balligave is located in the modern state of Karnataka. Although it is now a tiny village, the temples and other remains found there attest to the fact that it was once an important town. The Kedareshvara Temple dates from the 11th Century and consists of three shrines arranged around a large open hall. Two of these shrines contain lingas, one of which represents Brahma, the other Shiva. The third shrine houses a statue of Vishnu. The temple is beautifully decorated, the ceiling depicts Shiva and Dikpalas whilst serpents adorn the screens. This photograph shows a perforated stone window with figures of dancers and musicians contained inside volutes or spiral patterns with foliated ends.